Audra Fuentes Departmental Analyst

Off ice of Migrant Affairs

MI Department of Health & Human Services

Co-Chair

Michigan Migrant Child Task Force

Michigan Migrant Child Task Force Collaboration for Farmworker

Children Health

Presentation Overview

Number of MSFWs in Michigan

Overview of the IMSC and MMCTF

Challenges encountered by Farmworker families

MMCTF History and Priority Areas

Cross-agency Collaboration Outcomes and Outreach

Michigan’s Farmworkers: An Overview

How many migrant & seasonal farmworkers in MI?

94,167 MSFWs and dependents; 61,564 migrants ²

27,965 migrant children ages 0-19

10,599 migrant children ages 5-12

7,718 migrant children under 5

¹ United States Department of Labor Employment & Training Administration

Designation of Significant Migrant and Seasonal Farm Worker (MSFW) States, 2014.

² Michigan Update Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Enumeration Profiles Study, 2013. www.michigan.gov/documents/dhs/FarmworkerReport_430130_7.pdf

Michigan’s Farmworkers: An Overview

Top 5 Counties: (Migrant workers & dependents)

1. Ottawa (9,084) 2. Van Buren (8,527) 3. Oceana (4,738) 4. Berrien (4,496) 5. Allegan (3,458)

NOTE: Map indicates migrant & seasonal workers & dependents. http://michigan.gov/documents/dhs/FINALFactSheet_431867_7.pdf?20130823162225

MI Interagency Migrant Services Committee

Mission: The mission of The State of Michigan Interagency

Migrant Services Committee (IMSC) is to improve the quality of life of Migrant and Seasonal farmworkers and their family members who work in Michigan’s agricultural industry.

Goal: The goal of The State of Michigan Interagency Migrant

Services Committee is to develop a comprehensive action plan for the improvement of personal, mental, environmental and occupational health, education, employment, social services, civil rights and legal services for Migrant and Seasonal farmworkers and their families.

Diverse Membership

Subcommittees/Task Forces

Challenges for Michigan’s Migrant Children

Access to Child Care

State child care provider application and training requirements

Lack of providers in remote areas

Lack of outreach to & support for providers in all areas

Access to Healthcare and Health Challenges

Pesticides exposure

Lack of access to care

Lack of transportation

Challenges for Michigan’s Migrant Children

Lack of Transportation

Unable to apply for Driver’s Licenses

Fear of travel due to deportations

Housing Availability/Importance of Quality

Housing essential for workers new to MI

Ensure safety of workers and children

Free of pesticides

Immigration

Fear of Driving without a License

Fear of Raids

MMCTF History

Developed in 2003

Workgroup developed between Migrant Affairs/DHS, Migrant Education, & Migrant Head Start in response to a constituent complaint to the Governor’s Office.

Community outreach & focus group discussions initiated by the Directors of the three programs.

Focus on Day Care Aide training issues and collaboration across program lines.

MMCTF History

In 2004:

Regional meetings & outreach taking place with DHS, Migrant Ed, & Migrant Head Start staff.

Stronger collaboration begins with our CDC Administrator, Head Start State Collaboration Office, MI’s 4C Association.

Connection established with the National Collaboration Coordinator of Telamon Migrant Head Start. Michigan site visit occurs.

Taskforce formally established under the IMSC in December 2004.

MMCTF History

In 2005:

Presentation to Federal IMSC in February 2005.

The National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC) begins facilitation of Strategic Planning process for the Taskforce in Jan./Feb. 2005.

Outreach to Migrant families, caregivers, & growers continues with visitors from the Telamon Migrant Head Start Bureau.

Presentation given at Nat’l Association for Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. in December.

Key Elements of Successful Partnerships

MMCTF Original Vision/Mission

The Vision: To improve the future of Migrant children in Michigan and the education of their caregivers.

The Mission: To collaborate, educate, & advocate for policy and programs that ensure a bright future for Migrant children.

MMCTF Strategic Plan Priorities

Strategic Plan Priorities:

Caregiver Education & Training

Data & Research

Access to Community Services

Health, Housing, Transportation, Policy Alternatives

Collaboration

Priority Area: Caregiver Education & Training

Overall Goal: Increase the supply of trained caregivers who care for the children of Migrant farmworkers (regulated, Aides and Relatives under the radar screen, etc.).

Objectives:

Identify and find the caregivers.

Identify and design appropriate training options.

Support Policy Improvements by State agencies

Reduce Turnover for individuals providing direct care.

Priority Area: Data & Research

Overall Goal: Obtain an accurate and current profile of Migrant children in Michigan, their families, and their caregivers.

Objectives:

Coordination with IMSC Data Taskforce.

Commission research on Migrant children, families & providers in Michigan.

Assure sustainability of long-term data collection and retrieval.

Secure appropriate “translation.”

Priority Area: Access to Community Resources

Overall Goal: Ensure that Migrant children and families have equal access to community services and resources.

Objectives:

Expand our knowledge of all services for Migrant children and families.

Develop a “report card” on existing services for Migrant children and families in Michigan.

Develop concrete proposals for the top priority policy areas.

Review & evaluate Action Plan Progress.

Priority Area: Collaboration

Overall Goal: Collaborate to improve services for Migrant children and their families.

Objectives:

Ensure collaboration between Migrant Education and Migrant Head Start in Michigan.

Promote collaboration with ECIC to ensure that Migrant children’s needs are addressed by the infrastructure of ECIC.

Expand representation on state-level taskforces.

MMCTF Participation

Representatives of agencies and programs providing services to migrants

Currently consists of 20 member organizations

Representatives from the grower community and farmworker advocates

MMCTF Participation

State Head Start Collaboration Office

Michigan Head Start Association

MI 4C

Office of Migrant Affairs, MDHHS

Migrant Education

Michigan Child Care Licensing

Bureau of Community Action Agencies

MSU Extension

Growers Association

Early Childhood Department, Michigan Department of Education

Michigan Child Care Subsidy Program, MDHHS

Michigan State University

National Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Collaboration Office

Migrant Head Start

Farmworker Legal Services

MI Department of Community Health

MMCTF Materials

MMCTF Display

Wallet Cards

Brochures

Water Bottles

Backpacks

MMCTF T-Shirts

Fact Sheet

Data from Enumeration Study

Program Data from members

MMCTF Today

Mission: To promote the well-being of Michigan’s Migrant children

through the education of their caregivers, advocacy for effective public policy, and collaboration with community partners.

Vision: Healthy Migrant children today. Strong communities tomorrow.

Cultivating hope.

Priority Areas:

Access to community services

Collaboration

Caregiver development and supports

Public awareness and outreach

Outcomes of MMCTF Collaboration and Coordination

Improved cross-referrals between Migrant Head Start and Migrant Education

Expanded programming and use of facilities through Migrant Head Start and Migrant Education collaborative projects

Improved joint recruitment and outreach across agencies

Successful coordination of outreach activities for public policy officials to improve dialogue with Migrant parents and providers

Outcomes of MMCTF Collaboration and Coordination

Continued support for culturally and linguistically appropriate training for Migrant Child Care Providers through Michigan Community Coordinated Child Care (4C) Association and Michigan State University Extension

Better utilization and leveraging of funding

National level collaboration with two Federal Technical Assistance Systems: the Office of Head Start (Migrant) and the Child Care Bureau (NCCIC)

MMCTF Outreach

Four outreach events per year

Items distributed during outreach for the improvement of farmworker health:

Toothbrushes/Toothpaste

Bandanas

First Aid Kits

Water Bottles

Car seats/Booster seats

Diapers/Wipes

Informational Bags

Children’s Books

Soccer Balls

Positive Outcomes from Outreach

Migrant and Seasonal Head Start and Migrant Education now make referrals to each other

Joint recruitment and outreach occurring with other agencies

Better utilization and leveraging of funding

Positive Outcomes from Outreach

Getting policy advisors and legislators out to the camps to see how migrants live have led to improvements in policies, such as the state’s Child Development and Care Assistance Program

CDC Categorical Eligibility

Child Care Providers – continuous eligibility and increase in trainings around peak harvest seasons

Expanded materials available in Spanish

Positive Outcomes from Outreach

Connect providers and families to services, such as health, education, legal assistance, child care, public benefits, etc., among the following agencies:

Telamon MI Migrant Head Start

Michigan Migrant Education K-12

College Assistance Migrant Program

MDHHS/WIC

MDHHS

Migrant Health Clinics

Farmworker Legal Services

Great Start to Quality

Positive Outcomes from Outreach

Housing Improvement made through Referrals to Migrant Labor Housing

Showing our appreciation to farmworker families in Michigan

Questions or Comments?

Audra Fuentes, Departmental Analyst

Office of Migrant Affairs/MDHHS

(269) 615-6308

fuentesa@michigan.gov

Thank you!

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